Department for Transport

National Air Traffic Services

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his plans are for the Government's 49 per cent stake in NATS; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government is currently committed to exploring the sale of its 49% shareholding in NATS and maximising returns to the taxpayer.We have not yet set a timetable for the sale.

Transport: Disability

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 2 of the Government response to the Fifth Report from the Transport Committee, Session 2013-14, on Access to transport for disabled people, HC870, whether he plans to review his Department's Inclusive Mobility guidance in 2015.

Andrew Jones: This Government plans to review the Inclusive Mobility Guidance during 2016. We are working with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) to assess what information should go in this publication and how to make it used and useful to a wide audience.

Liverpool Airport

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will estimate the number of passengers from North Wales and Cheshire who are projected to use Liverpool Airport in (a) 2015, (b) 2020 and (c) 2025.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The last aviation forecasts made by the Department for Transport were produced in January 2013. These gave the following forecasts of passengers using Liverpool Airport who began or ended their journeys in North Wales or Cheshire in the central demand case:(a) 2015 : 0.81 million(b) 2020 : 0.78 million(c) 2025 : 0.82 million.

Cycling: Safety

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to include a commitment to constructing safe paths alongside busy roads in rural areas in the forthcoming National Road Safety Strategy to improve cycle safety.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Conservative Manifesto 2015 had a commitment to reduce the number of cyclists and other road users killed or injured on our roads every year. We have been working closely with road safety groups to consider what more can be done and expect to publish our Road Safety Statement shortly.The Road Safety Statement will set out the high level plan and overarching approach to road safety that we expect to take over the rest of the Parliament, and will be followed by a series of more detailed proposals and consultations. The Department for Transport will publish a Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy in 2016 which will set out our plans for investment in safer cycling and walking infrastructure.Busy roads in rural areas will either be the responsibility of Highways England or local authorities.Highways England have committed to provide a safer, integrated and more accessible strategic road network for cyclists and other vulnerable road users. To support this, the Government has outlined a commitment to invest £100m between 2015/16 and 2020/21 to improve provision for cyclists on the strategic road network.On a local level, provision of cycling infrastructure is for local traffic authorities. The Department encourages them to ensure cycling is considered as part of the planning process.The Department for Transport’s Cycle Infrastructure Design guidance supports local authorities on providing cycle-safe infrastructure for cyclists.It is also worth noting that from within the record £6 billion to be allocated to local highways authorities between 2015 and 2021 for road maintenance, from 2018/19 the plan is to change the formula used to allocate local highways maintenance capital funding so that it also takes into account footways and cycleways as well as the roads, bridges and street lighting, which it is currently based on. Once implemented, around 9% of the funding will be based on footway and cycleway lengths.

Newmarket Station

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what upgrades are planned for Newmarket railway station.

Claire Perry: There are plans already in development to improve lighting at Newmarket station which will be undertaken in the early years of the new franchise due to start in October 2016.For the new East Anglia franchise we have adopted a new stations policy. This requires a 40 year Stations Asset Management Plan along with a 10 year Station Social and Commercial Development Plan. This will ensure the bidders target the provision of services at stations according to the volume and needs of passengers at the individual station. We expect bidders to plan for investments to improve the station environment and facilities for passengers as part of a 40 year station strategy.Theformation of a Station Social and Commercial Development Plan involves consulting with users and the local community on concerns, issues, opportunities and risks relating to individual stations and the priorities for investment.

Newmarket Station

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Network Rail and Suffolk County Council on increasing the number of services stopping at Newmarket railway station.

Claire Perry: The Secretary of State has held no discussions with Network Rail and Suffolk County Council on increasing the number of services stopping at Newmarket station.The issues of future passenger and freight demand, route capacity and service levels have been considered in Network Rail’s Anglia Route Study; and will be considered by the Department in future planning cycles.

Cycling: Finance

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding his Department plans to allocate to (a) increasing the number of journeys undertaken by bicycle and (b) reducing the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured on roads over the next five years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government remains committed to its manifesto targets to double cycling and make cycling safer.The Government recently reaffirmed its commitment to cycling and walking, with SR2015 announcing funding support of over £300m. This includes delivering the Cycle City Ambition programme in full, and funding the Bikeability cycle training programme, which increases cycle proficiency amongst school children.The Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, to be published in summer 2016, will explain the Government’s investment strategy for cycling and walking.

Large Goods Vehicle Drivers

Richard  Arkless: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to encourage an increase in the number of HGV drivers in the UK to meet demand for such drivers.

Andrew Jones: The Department’s agencies are taking action on HGV driver testing and licensing. This includes recruiting 78 new driving examiners, as well as 65 in training and 41 offered posts. Licence renewal times where there are not medical issues have reduced and changes are being made to the operation of parts of the medical renewals process. The Department is working with other parts of Government to encourage and enable more people to become lorry drivers, including via apprenticeships and action related to Jobcentre Plus.I note that over 55,000 tests were conducted in 2014-15, the highest total since 2008-09. Further, the number of Large Goods Vehicle practical and theory tests of all types conducted during July to September 2015 was 34 per cent higher than in the same quarter of 2014.

Road Traffic Offences

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to give local authorities the power to enforce moving traffic contraventions under the provisions of the Traffic Management Act 2004.

Andrew Jones: There are no plans to do so at present.

National Air Traffic Services: Prestwick

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to hold a consultation with the Scottish Government on the future of the NATS centre at Prestwick.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government is currently exploring the sale of its 49 per cent shareholding in NATS, and will ensure that the Scottish Government is consulted about any implications for Prestwick.

Railways: Students

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on extension of the Unizone reduced fares rail scheme to the University of Brighton's Hastings campus; if he will provide funding to allow that extension to be implemented immediately; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: I have received two representations on this matter from Rt Hon and Noble members and two from members of the public in the last 12 months.Department for Transport officials have been discussing with GTR the feasibility of extending the Unizone product scope to encompass Hastings, requesting that GTR produce a business case. I understand that GTR are consulting with the University of Brighton and Local Authorities to see if they would be minded to support the initiative and to help keep the Unizone fare low. GTR are also looking at how they can use their ‘Key’ smartcard product to provide a better passenger experience for the user of the Unizone product.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to assess the condition and future requirements for maintenance of the local roads network.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the reasons for regional variation in the condition of local authority A roads that merit the indicator which states that they are roads where maintenance should be considered.

Andrew Jones: The Department for Transport regularly publishes Official Statistics on the proportion of roads where maintenance should be considered by region in England. The latest available published data are for the financial year 2013/14.Road maintenance is a matter for individual local highway authorities, and it is for them to prioritise work according to local need. However, we are providing local highway authorities with record funding of £6 billion for local highways maintenance plus a £250 million pothole action fund as recently announced by the Chancellor on top of this.

Government Car Service

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the makes and models of cars bought by the Government Car Service in each of the last five years; and what the carbon dioxide output of each of those cars is.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The attached table lists the make, model, and carbon dioxide emissions for cars procured by the Government Car Service in the last five years.



19877 - GCS - Make Model CO2 purchased since 05/10
(Excel SpreadSheet, 13.5 KB)

Electric Vehicles

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Highways Act 1835 to allow the use of hoverboards and segways.

Andrew Jones: To maintain the UK’s position as a world-leading location to test, develop, and use connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies, the Department for Transport is planning a wider review of domestic regulations by Summer 2017.The Highways Act 1835 will form part of the review, which is at an early stage. No decisions have yet been taken as to which regulatory changes will be necessary to support CAV technologies, or if the review will cover other forms of transport such as Segways or so-called ‘hoverboards’. People are already free to use Segways and ‘hoverboards’ on private land.

Cycling: Finance

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2015 to Question 18104, how much funding will be allocated to the (a) Cycling Ambition City programme, (b) Highways England cycling programme, (c) Bikeability cycle training programme, (d) Local Growth Fund, (e) new Access fund and (f) Cycle/Rail programme in each of the next five years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, to be published in summer 2016, will set out the Government’s plans for investing in cycling and walking. Otherwise, I can confirm that at least £114m Capital Department Expenditure Limit (CDEL) will go to the continuation of the Cycle Ambition Cities between 2015/16 and 2017/18, the Road Investment Strategy committed £100m between 2015/16 and 2020/21 to improve provision for cyclists on the Strategic Road Network, £12m Resource Department Expenditure Limit (RDEL) will go to Bikeability cycle training each year, £80m RDEL will go toward the Access fund, and £500m CDEL has been embedded in the Local Growth Fund to support spend on sustainable transport, including cycling and walking. All other funding streams will be considered as part of the process for developing the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy.

Railway Stations: West Yorkshire

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the economic benefits to Todmorden and Hebden Bridge following the planned improvements to the railway stations in both towns as part of the new Northern rail franchise.

Andrew Jones: The Calder Valley route between Manchester and Bradford will see more trains and faster journeys, with the weekday service frequency between Bradford and Manchester being enhanced by 50% (from two to three trains per hour), a significant increase in evening services, a doubling of Sunday service frequency from one to two trains per hour, and new direct links from Bradford to Manchester Airport and from Bradford to Liverpool.These enhancements will bring benefits to Calder Valley towns such as Hebden Bridge and Todmorden. Taking these improvements alongside other existing services, Hebden Bridge and Todmorden will each be served by a total of four trains per hour for the main part of the day (Monday to Saturday) and three trains per hour (Sundays). In addition, both Hebden Bridge and Todmorden will also become “Northern Connect” stations, benefiting from new or refurbished trains on longer-distance services, faster journeys and stations staffed daily with catering services and free Wi-Fi.Add this to the withdrawal of all Pacers by the end of 2019, an investment of £400 million in 281 brand newcarriages (some of which will operate on the existing Blackpool-York services and the new Bradford-Manchester Airport and Bradford-Liverpool services), and the refurbishment of the rest of the Northern fleet, we expect these enhancements to result in very substantial economic benefits for the area.

A628: Tunnels

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on the construction of a road tunnel to replace the A628 which connects Barnsley to Manchester.

Andrew Jones: In November, the Secretary of State received the interim report of the Strategic Study into a potential Trans-Pennine Tunnel. This early work has shown that a tunnel is technically feasible, and that there is a clear strategic case for linking Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire.However further work is needed into the costs and economic benefits of such a tunnel before any judgement can be reached about whether or not it will be value for money. The full report of the study, due in 2016, should address these issues.

A1: Pedestrian Crossings

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many crossings there are on the A1.

Andrew Jones: Highways England are responsible for about 705 road, foot, equestrian, river and farm bridge crossings of the A1 from the junction with the M25 to the England/Scotland border.

Tunnels: North of England

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the options for a transport tunnel connecting Sheffield and Manchester city regions.

Andrew Jones: In November, the Secretary of State received the interim report of the Strategic Study into a potential Trans-Pennine Tunnel. This early work has shown that a tunnel is technically feasible, and that there is a clear strategic case for linking the Manchester and Sheffield city regions.However further work is needed into the costs and economic benefits of such a tunnel before any judgement can be reached about whether or not it will be value for money. The full report of the study, due in 2016, should address these issues.

Railways: Electrification

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what costs his Department has incurred as a result of delays to the TransPennine Midland Main Line, and Great Western Main Line electrification project.

Claire Perry: The department has not incurred any additional costs as a result of Sir Peter Hendy’s re-plan of the rail upgrade programme, which includes TransPennine, Midland Main Line, and Great Western Main Line electrification.

Railways: Young People

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the effect of changes to the use of the Young Persons Railcard for peak time services on people holding that card.

Claire Perry: The administration of all the national cards, both mandatory and voluntary, is performed by a council, run as part of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC). The council agrees the conditions of the schemes and any changes to the mandatory schemes have to be approved by the Secretary of State. All Train Operating Companies are obliged to participate in such schemes under the terms of their franchise agreements.As it is for ATOC to suggest any change to the schemes, it would be for them to make such an assessment when proposing any change which would be reviewed before approval by the Secretary of State.

Roads: Standards

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding (a) in total and (b) by region of Road User Satisfaction Report was paid to AECOM from the public purse for those reports published by the Highways Agency on 11 December 2015.

Andrew Jones: The total contractual amounts Highways England pays are as follows:£274,129 for the National Road User Satisfaction Survey from April 2015 to March 2016.£376,846 for the Area Road User Satisfaction Survey from April 2015 to March 2016.Costs are not split by region.

Railways: North of England

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what comparative assessment he has made of the potential economic benefit to the north of England of faster rail links between north and south and better connectivity within the north of England.

Andrew Jones: The Department and Transport for North (TfN) are currently developing options for delivering the transformational rail connectivity in the north of England set out in the Northern Transport Strategy, and aim to have an understanding of the relative scale of costs and benefits of these options in autumn 2016.As outlined in the recent HS2 Economic Case published in November 2015, the benefits of the full HS2 Y-Network are estimated to be £72.8bn (2011 prices, PV). This analysis calculated that the benefit cost ratio (BCR) of HS2 is 2.2 for the full Y-network, including wider economic impacts. Therefore, over £2 worth of benefits are expected for every £1 spent which represents high value for money.

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make representations to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency to implement the review of staffing and deployment agreed with trades unions in February 2014.

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to encourage the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency to implement the review of staffing and deployment agreed with trades unions in February 2014.

Andrew Jones: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) regularly shares staffing data with the Trade Union Side (TUS) and has met them on many occasions since February 2014 to discuss matters including, but not limited to, staffing and deployment. A timeline was agreed with the TUS for these discussions to conclude on 23 September 2015 in order for them to ballot members on the position reached. Despite the final position on these talks being rejected by the TUS DVSA offered to continue discussions, on an ongoing basis, about staffing and deployment.DVSA is currently engaged in talks via ACAS with the Prospect Union, who have suspended industrial action, and hopes to be able to do the same with the Public and Commercial Services Union.

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency: Staff

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) staff are working temporarily at a higher grade to cover a vacancy; and what assessment he has made of the effect of such arrangements on the relationship between DVSA staff and management.

Andrew Jones: Temporary promotion allows the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to develop people and give them opportunities to gain new skills and experiences; it would always seek to make use of this opportunity.At the last quarter 376 people within DVSA were on a form of temporary promotion, this includes opportunities to cover vacancies but also to conduct fixed term projects at a higher grade.Since the creation of DVSA there have been a greater number of people on temporary promotion than normally expected and has started to address this with permanent recruitment.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Social Rented Housing

Natalie McGarry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the extent of financial and operational links between the social housing sector in Scotland and England.

Brandon Lewis: The Department has made no such formal assessment. The Social Housing Regulator for England's Regulatory Framework only applies to registered providers of social housing in England. Responsibility for housing is a devolved matter.

Parking: Private Property

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will establish a standards setting body with a code of practice and an appeals service for all accredited trade associations for the management of parking on private land.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he will respond to the submissions to his Department's consultation, Parking reform: tackling unfair practices, of March 2015.

Mr Marcus Jones: We are currently analysing responses to the discussion paper ‘Parking reform: tackling unfair practices’ issued earlier this year. The suggestion to establish a standards setting body with a code of practice and an appeals service for all accredited trade associations for the management of parking on private land was made in some responses, and we are actively considering this point as part of our wider work on parking. We will publish our response to the discussion paper in the New Year.

Parking

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department's policy remit on off-street parking includes parking for healthcare facilities, railway stations and local authority housing estates.

Mr Marcus Jones: Responsibility for off-street parking transferred to DCLG in March of 2015, including Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and those aspects of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Traffic Management Act 2004 which relate to off-street parking.The Department of Health have responsibly for setting the policy contect by which hopsital car parks operate and the Department of Transport retain an interest in railway parking. My Department has reponsibility for Local Authority housing estates.

Owner Occupation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to increase the level of home ownership relative to other EU countries.

Brandon Lewis: This Government is committed to increasing opportunities to help people achieve the aspiration of home ownership. Almost 270,000 people have been helped to buy a home since 2010 using government-backed schemes. In the Autumn Statement we announced that the Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme will be extended for five years to 2021 with £8.6 billion of additional funding. This will assist the sale of up to 145,000 more new-build homes. We will also launch London Help to Buy in early 2016, increasing the equity loan in London from up to 20% to up to 40%, in recognition of the specific affordability issues resulting from higher house prices in the capital.The Autumn Statement also confirmed a total of £8 billion for over 400,000 affordable homes, including £4.1 billion for 135,000 new Shared Ownership homes. This also includes delivery of 200,000 Starter Homes at a 20% discount for young first time buyers, with £2.3 billion committed to supporting these. As well as reinvigorating the Right to Buy in 2012, we have secured a historic deal with housing associations to give their tenants the opportunity to buy their home with an equivalent discount to the Right to Buy.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Honours

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the legal position is on the use of prefixes or styles granted by virtue of honours in Commonwealth realms in the UK to (a) either to a citizen of a Commonwealth realm and (b) to a dual national who is also national of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; how such honours are recognised; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge: The recognition of foreign honours is a matter for the Royal Prerogative and is governed by convention, rather than by law.

Honours

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the rules and regulations are on the use, style and designation in the UK accorded to dual nationals or nationals of Commonwealth realms who are recipients of a knighthood in any of those realms; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge: The Sovereign’s permission must be sought whenever a British national wishes to accept an award offered by another country. If permission is given, the award may be accepted, the insignia may be worn and the relevant post-nominal letters may be used. The Sovereign does not give permission for the formal use of the title “Sir” in the United Kingdom; only those British nationals, including dual nationals, awarded British knighthoods may use the title “Sir” in a formal context in the United Kingdom. The Sovereign acts with the advice of the Government. Nationals of all the Realms, awarded a British knighthood, are entitled to use the title “Sir” in the United Kingdom. The titles of Realm nationals, who are not British, and have been awarded a knighthood by their own country, are recognised in the United Kingdom as an official courtesy.

Syria: Military Intervention

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to paragraph 19 of the Prime Minister's written response to the Foreign Affairs Committee's report on British military operations in Syria published on 26 November 2015, what the evidential basis is for the statement that within Syria local councils and emerging local governance structures (a) have become stronger and (b) deliver basic services to a population of over 1.1 million people.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK, through the Conflict, Security and Stability Fund, is supporting local councils and emerging local governance structures in 28 communities across Syria. These communities contain a population of 1.1 million people. Our support means that local councils have the assistance they need to deliver essential services, including health, education and utilities, in a way that they were not able to previously. This also includes specific support for building good governance practices. This is confirmed by our project partners who operate in Syria.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to prevent the inadvertent use of Libyan financial assets for the funding of militias in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Funding of militias by the Libyan Government dates from the immediate aftermath of the 2011 revolution. The ongoing conflict has made it difficult for subsequent governments to regularise the situation. We welcome the announcement that the Libyan political dialogue members are expected to sign the Libyan Political Agreement. A ceasefire will be essential in order for a Government of National Accord (GNA) to operate. It will be crucial for the new GNA to quickly integrate supportive militias into a regularised national budgetary and security framework.As underlined at the Rome Conference on 13 December, the United Kingdom stands ready with our international partners in supporting a new Government of National Accord in restoring stability, including economic, technical and security assistance, as requested.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for future Government policy of the suspension of the Temporary Financial Mechanism on Libyan assets following the 2011 revolution in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Temporary Financial Mechanism (TFM), established by the Contact Group in Doha in 2011, was a temporary response to the urgent financial needs of the new Libyan National Transitional Council, intended to be used until the new Libyan administration was able to take control of Libyan state assets and revenues. The TFM was used to provide a range of critical financial support, including the import of refined fuel, the treatment of injured Libyans, and family support payments to Libyans who had depended on government welfare payments.Our focus now is on supporting the expected signature of the Libyan Political Agreement and the establishment of a Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA). In addition to restoring stability and dealing with the threat of terrorism in Libya, a priority for the new GNA will be returning oil and gas production to pre-crisis levels to sustain stability and growth to the benefit of all Libyans.

Libya

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department made of the potential effect on Libya of the suspension of the Temporary Financial Mechanism before that suspension occurred.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK led thinking on the Temporary Financial Mechanism (TFM), established by the Contact Group in Doha in 2011 as a temporary response to the urgent financial needs of the new Libyan National Transitional Council, intended to be used until the new Libyan administration was able to take control of Libyan state assets and revenues that supported Qadhafi’s regime. The UK provided the funding to prepare the TFM and to establish operating procedures that would provide confidence that there was transparent and independent oversight of the funds, and that they would be used in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.After National Transitional Forces (NTC) forces took control of Tripoli on 22 August 2011, the UK sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 2009. This established the UN Support Mission in Libya to support stabilisation in Libya, modified the asset freeze on four key listed state entities, provided for a new exemption to unfreeze their assets and mandated the Sanctions Committee to lift the remaining freeze as soon as practical (in consultation with the Libyan authorities). The TFM was used to provide a range of critical financial support, including the import of refined fuel, the treatment of injured Libyans, and family support payments to Libyans who had depended on government welfare payments.

Syria

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much has been allocated to Syria under the (a) Conflict, Stability and Security Fund and (b) Conflict Pool in (i) 2015-16 and (ii) the next four financial years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund has allocated £55 million to Syria for the current financial year. Funding for the next four financial years has not yet been agreed by the National Security Council. The UK has delivered over £100m in non-humanitarian support to Syria, Jordan and Lebanon since the start of the crisis from the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund and its predecessor, the Conflict Pool. This has focussed on strengthening the moderate opposition, building resilience against extremists, fostering civil society structures in besieged areas, promoting Human Rights, delivering basic governance and laying the foundations for a more peaceful and inclusive future for Syria. Further details of this can be found on the Gov.uk website. The UK has always punched above its weight in helping deal with the effects of the Syria crisis. That’s why the Prime Minister announced that we will commit at least £1 billion to reconstruction in Syria.

Syria: Refugees

Richard  Arkless: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the potential change in numbers of Syrian refugees arriving in Europe as a result of the commencement of UK airstrikes in Syria.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We have not made any estimates of the potential increase in numbers of Syrian refugees arriving in Europe as a result of UK airstrikes. The majority of people who have been displaced in Syria have been fleeing regime and Daesh attacks. Unlike the Assad regime and its allies, who are bombing indiscriminately, Coalition military efforts in both Iraq and Syria are specifically designed to minimise civilian casualties. Targets are selected through rigorous protocol, based on the principles of proportionality, legality and military necessity. As the the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Philip Hammond) confirmed to the House on 16 December we are not aware of any civilian casualties as a result of the RAF airstrikes in Syria.

Libya

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the UK Minister attending the Summit Conference on the future Governance of Libya in Rome on 12 and 13 December 2015 discussed the matter of compensation for UK victims of IRA Semtex supplied by the Gaddafi Regime with any parties attending the Summit; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The formation of a Government of National Accord (GNA) is an important step towards engagement with the Libyan Government on reconciliation initiatives relating to Qadhafi-sponsored terrorism. Once stability returns to Libya and our Embassy re-opens we will urge the Libyan authorities to engage again with UK victims and their legal representatives, including those seeking compensation.

Islamic State: Finance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2015 to Question 18970, what measures are being taken to prevent Daesh from receiving donations from individuals or other actors.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK has led efforts to create and enforce an international sanctions regime to cut off financial support for Daesh, underpinned by UN Security Council Resolutions (such as 1267, 2170 and 2199). As members of the Global Coalition’s Counter ISIL Finance Group, we are actively involved in identifying companies and individuals that breach the sanctions regime. UK law enforcement agencies have a well established and sophisticated system for investigating and shutting off sources of finance for terrorists, including Daesh, working with the finance sector to stop funds going from individuals to Daesh through the banking system. We are also working to close down Daesh’s ability to trade outside the formal financial system, cutting their access to black market trading and alternative international flows of money. The UK Government has robust processes in place, working closely with the charity sector to ensure that illegal charities do not fund Daesh and that NGO’s do not inadvertently do so, and also cooperating with the private sector to stop terrorist-related money laundering.

Islamic State: Oil

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2015 to Question 18970, what measures are being taken to stop the Daesh trade in oil and hydrocarbon products.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Coalition’s military efforts in Syria are an important part of the strategy to cut off Daesh oil revenues. The UK has launched strikes targeting Daesh oil facilities in Omar oil field. In total, Coalition airstrikes have damaged or destroyed over 260 oil infrastructure targets so far, taking out crucial Daesh oil facilities and convoys. The UK has led international efforts to make it illegal for any state, company or individual to trade in oil and oil products with Daesh, including co-sponsoring UN Security Council Resolution 2199 in February 2015. The Chancellor was in New York on 17 December for the first ever meeting of Finance Ministers at the UN Security Council to strengthen the sanctions regime against Daesh. We are also working with the private sector to ensure Daesh cannot access the spare parts and fuel additives it needs for its oil industry to function.

Syria: Refugees

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions the Government has had with the UNHCR about the de-registration of Syrian refugees in Lebanon; what assessment he has made of the effect of the Lebanese government programme to de-register refugees in Lebanon on the number of refugees reported to be in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We have regular discussions with UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the situation of refugees in Lebanon. Unregistered refugees do not have the official documentation required to get access to essential services. We continue to lobby the Government of Lebanon to allow refugees to register with UNHCR and have given UNHCR over £44 million towards their work in the region. This includes support for registering Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan. The UK is also providing £1.9 million to the Norwegian Refugee Council for information, counselling and legal assistance to refugees in both countries. This aims to ensure refugees are aware of their rights and are able to access all relevant services available to them. Lebanon has shown remarkable generosity in hosting over 1.1 million refugees from the Syria crisis. The UK recognises the great strain that this is placing on the country and we remain committed to supporting Lebanese stability in the face of these pressures.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Consumer Protection Measures in the Ticket Resale Market Review

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2015 to Question 15298, on Consumer Protection Measures in the Ticket Resale Market Review; who his Department contacted in Parliament; by what means they were contacted; and  what response his Department received from Parliament.

Nick Boles: In relation to the Consumer Protection Measures in the Ticket Resale Market Review, the following Parliamentarians were contacted by my Department by letter and/or email on 30 March 2015. The draft Terms of Reference were attached to these letters:Baroness HayterBaroness Heyhoe FlintLord AddingtonLord BorwickLord Clement-JonesLord MoynihanLord PendryLord StevensonLord StonehamLord YoungerI met with yourself, Nick Smith MP, Lord Moynihan, Lord Stevenson and Baroness Heyhoe-Flint to discuss secondary ticketing issues including Terms of Reference for the Review on 15 September. Subsequently, a detailed response on the Terms of Reference was received from Lord Moynihan.The following Parliamentarians were also contacted by email on 13 October regarding the Terms of Reference and Call for Evidence:Andrew Bingham MPDavid Morris MPMark Garnier MPMark Pritchard MPNick Smith MPNigel Adams MPSharon Hodgson MPStephen McPartland MPAll the Peers listed above were also contacted on 13 October.Details of the Terms of Reference were also laid in the Libraries of both Houses on 13 October 2015.

Broadband

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on steps to improve competition in the broadband market.

Nick Boles: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on a wide range of issues.

Apprentices: Taxation

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the number of employers in Wales that will be affected by the apprenticeship levy.

Nick Boles: The apprenticeship levy will apply to employers across the UK. An allowance of £15,000 means only those with a paybill exceeding £3million will have to pay it. The Government is already working with the Welsh Government and the other devolved administrations to ensure they can get their fair share of the revenue and, as far as possible, to develop a system for administering the levy which complements the skills and apprenticeship policies of each of the devolved administrations, and which works for employers wherever they are in the UK.

Apprentices: Disability

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of people in apprenticeships who have a disability.

Nick Boles: Information on apprenticeship participation by learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is published in a Statistical First Release.https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/learner-participation-outcomes-and-level-of-highest-qualification-heldIn 2014/15, 8.6% of learners participating in apprenticeships identified themselves as having a learning difficulty and/or disability.

Living Wage: Calder Valley

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of the National Living Wage on wage growth in Calder Valley.

Nick Boles: We have made no assessment of the impacts of the National Living Wage in Calder Valley or at constituency level. The Government published its Impact Assessment of the National Living Wage on 7 December.The new National Living Wage is an essential part of moving to a higher wage, lower tax, lower welfare society; it ensures that work pays, and reduces reliance on the state topping up wages through the benefits system. The Government’s target is for the National Living Wage to reach 60% of median earnings by 2020, and we have asked the Low Pay Commission to recommend its level going forward.

Economic Growth

Natalie McGarry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of poverty and inequalities on entrepreneurialism and economic growth.

Anna Soubry: Economic growth is the best way to reduce poverty. We are providing opportunity and training for all, so that everyone can secure their own economic future. That might be through setting up their own business and Government has so far backed over 33,500 Start-Up Loans, worth over £180m. There are a record 5.3 million small businesses in the UK.The Mone Review, led by entrepreneur Michelle Mone, is bringing forward recommendations for how best to support entrepreneurship in disadvantaged communities.

Service Industries: Trade Agreements

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the implications for implementing his Department's policies for combatting climate change and decarbonising electricity generation of the Trade in Services Agreement.

Anna Soubry: The Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) negotiation is ongoing. A full sustainable impact assessment is being conducted on the TISA. The terms of reference of the report include analysis of the impact of the TISA on climate change. The final inception report can be found on the EU’s website.The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has not carried out any additional assessments in relation to the impact of the agreement on wider climate change policies, but works closely with the Department of Energy and Climate Change on the content of the Agreement to ensure it aligns with the UK’s wider policy objectives.

Small Businesses: Northern Ireland

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on Small Business Saturday and its benefits to promoting the value of small businesses to the economy.

Anna Soubry: Officials in the department meet with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive on a regular basis, to discuss a range of matters connected to small business, including Small Business Saturday.

Apprentices

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether apprentices are required to achieve a Level 2 Qualification including mathematics and English in order to be entered for an Advanced Level apprenticeship and for those entries to be in accordance with Trailblazer apprenticeships standards.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether apprentices are required to achieve a Level 2 qualification, including mathematics and English, in order (a) to be entered for an Advanced Level Apprenticeship and (b) for entries to be in accordance with the Specification of Apprenticeships Standards for England.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether apprentices are required to achieve a Level 1 qualification, including mathematics and English, in order (a) to be entered for an Intermediate Level Apprenticeship and (b) for entries to be in accordance with the Specification of Apprenticeships Standards for England.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether apprentices are required to achieve a Level 1 qualification, including mathematics and English, in order (a) to be entered for an Intermediate Level Apprenticeship and (b) for entries to be in accordance with the Trailblazer Apprenticeships Standards.

Nick Boles: In order to maximise accessibility, there are no centrally set entry requirements to start an apprenticeship. However, as apprenticeships are jobs with training, individual employers may set their own entry requirements for a specific apprenticeship.The government does set requirements relating to training and achievement in English and maths during apprenticeships. This is because English and maths are fundamental to career progression and access to further learning.All apprenticeship frameworks must comply with the Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE). Under SASE, English and maths qualifications are a mandatory component of all Intermediate and Advanced apprenticeships. However, all adult apprentices are assessed for prior learning, and people who start an apprenticeship with current English and maths qualifications at the right level need not repeat these.We are reforming apprenticeships to ensure that they are based on standards designed by employers.The government sets minimum requirements for apprenticeship standards, though employers are able to go further in the standards they design. They are able to specify a higher level of English and/or maths achievement or to specify a particular qualification or qualifications where this is needed for a particular occupation or sector. . The minimum requirements are - passing level 1 English and maths and taking the test for level 2 before taking the end-point assessment for an intermediate apprenticeship; and passing level 2 English and maths before taking the end-point assessment for an advanced or higher apprenticeship.

Apprentices: Disability

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to increase inclusivity for disabled people of the Approved Apprenticeship programmes.

Nick Boles: Apprenticeships are paid jobs, and whilst we would not want to interfere in employers’ recruitment decisions, we believe there is more that can be done to ensure that people from a diverse range of backgrounds are in the best possible place to apply for and secure an apprenticeship. For instance, the availability of reasonable adjustments for disabled learners (who can apply for Access to Work funding) and the accessibility of online tests. Employers must fulfil their duties as set out in the Equality Act 2010 for apprentices as they would for other employees.Government also fully funds apprentices aged 19 to 24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan). Apprentices aged 19 to 24 without an EHC Plan, who have a learning difficulty and/or disability can benefit from additional funding through Learning Support.Advice is also available to help employers and training providers understand disabilities and how to better support disabled apprentices. We have funded NIACE to produce an employer toolkit http://www.employer-toolkit.org.uk/ for employers that want to develop a more inclusive and accessible apprenticeship offer.An Apprenticeships Equality and Diversity Advisory group helps government understand and address any apprenticeship equality and diversity issues in order to reduce barriers and make apprenticeships as inclusive as possible.

Department for Education

Brockhampton Academy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she intends to meet the hon. Member for North Herefordshire to discuss Brockhampton school.

Nick Gibb: The Secretary of State met the hon. Member for North Herefordshire last Wednesday 9th December. Department for Education officials are investigating the concerns raised about Brockhampton Primary School. We will follow up with options as quickly as possible. We will keep the hon. Member for North Herefordshire informed on developments.

Ministry of Justice

National Tactical Response Group

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times the National Tactical Response Group (NTRG) has been called out in each month in 2015; and to which prison the NTRG was called out in each case.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Any violence in prison is unacceptable - especially when it is directed at our hardworking staff.We have a zero tolerance approach to violence and work closely with the police on this issue. Those who are violent could face extra time behind bars. Anyone found to have broken prison rules will be stripped of their privileges and could have time added to their sentence.The following tables set out the occasions from 1st January 2015 until 9th December 2015 when the National Tactical Response Group (NTRG) has been called out to public and private sector establishments.The information does not include aborted callouts.DateEstablishment1JanuaryOnley2JanuaryNorthumberland3JanuaryThe Mount4JanuaryPentonville5JanuaryGarth6JanuaryNorthumberland7JanuaryDurham8JanuaryLancaster Farms9JanuaryRanby10JanuaryFeltham11JanuaryMorton Hall12JanuaryStyalTotalJanuary121FebruaryRisley2FebruaryOakwood3FebruaryLindholme4FebruaryMoorland5FebruaryIsis6FebruaryLindholme7FebruaryLiverpool8FebruaryDeerbolt9FebruaryDurham10FebruaryChannings Wood11FebruaryLindholme12FebruaryBrinsford13FebruaryLindholme14FebruaryWetherby15FebruaryBullingdonTotalFebruary15Any violence in prison is unacceptable - especially when it is directed at our hardworking staffWe have a zero tolerance approach to violence and work closely with the police on this issue. Those who are violent could face extra time behind bars. Anyone found to have broken prison rules will be stripped of their privileges and could have time added to their sentenceThe following tables set out the occasions from 1st January 2015 until 9th December 2015 when the National Tactical Response Group (NTRG) has been called out to public and private sector establishments.The information does not include aborted callouts.DateEstablishment1MarchRochester2MarchRochester3MarchPentonville4MarchWoodhill5MarchDoncaster6MarchWhitemoor7MarchDeerbolt8MarchLeicester9MarchWoodhill10MarchHigh Down11MarchLindholme12MarchIsis13MarchWandsworth14MarchPreston15MarchWandsworth16MarchLindholme17MarchWetherby18MarchWerrington19MarchDovegate20MarchHumber21MarchLeicester22MarchSwaleside23MarchBrixton24MarchDoncaster25MarchLindholme26MarchAylesbury27MarchHull28MarchNorthumberlandTotalMarch28DateEstablishment1AprilLindholme2AprilManchester3AprilDeerbolt4AprilGlen Parva5AprilBrixton6AprilLeicester7AprilGarth8AprilNottingham9AprilLiverpool10AprilBristol11AprilBristol12AprilLeeds13AprilStocken14AprilFeatherstone15AprilWerrington16AprilDovegate17AprilBirmingham18AprilNorthumberland19AprilNottingham20AprilWayland21AprilWayland22AprilStafford23AprilWetherby24AprilManchester25AprilHumber26AprilBristol27AprilLiverpoolTotalApril27DateEstablishment1MayStoke Heath2MayStocken3MayLindholme4MayHighdown5MayLeeds6MayHighdown7MayWandsworth8MayWayland9MayIsis10MayNottingham11MayLiverpool12MayWerrington13MayLeeds14MayGlen Parva15MayDover16MayThe Mount17MayBuckley Hall18MayDurham19MayDoncaster20MayPentonville21MayFeatherstone22MayLincoln23MayLincoln24MayThe Mount25MayExeter26MayPreston27MayLindholme28MayWerrington29MayBullingdon30MayThe MountTotalMay30DateEstablishment1JuneHindley2JuneWayland3JuneWandsworth4JuneStocken5JuneLeicester6JuneWayland7JuneLowdham Grange8JuneGlen Parva9JuneLincoln10JuneHumber11JuneLindholme12JuneLincoln13JuneMoorland14JuneWormwood Scrubs15JuneLowdham Grange16JuneLeeds17JuneHighpoint18JuneLeeds19JuneChannings Wood20JuneLeeds21JuneStocken22JuneGlen Parva23JuneStocken24JuneSwaleside25JuneOnley26JuneChannings Wood27JuneIsis28JuneHumber29JuneHindley30JuneWandsworth31JuneIsis32JuneWetherby33JuneNorthumberland34JuneWoodhill35JuneWayland36JuneHighpoint37JuneWetherby38JuneFrankland39JuneGarth40JuneWandsworth41JuneColdingley42JuneFeltham43JuneGarthTotalJune43DateEstablishment1JulyHumber2JulyLittlehey3JulyWandsworth4JulyBristol5JulyWayland6JulySwaleside7JulyWandsworth8JulyPentonville9JulySwaleside10JulyLindholme11JulyNottingham12JulyLiverpool13JulyLancaster Farms14JulyDoncaster15JulyLeeds16JulySwaleside17JulyThe Mount18JulyHumber19JulyBuckley Hall20JulyEastwood Park21JulyHighdown22JulyPortland23JulyWoodhill24JulyChelmsford25JulyLancaster Farms26JulyParkhurst27JulySwaleside28JulyLowdham GrangeTotalJuly28DateEstablishment1AugustWandsworth2AugustGlen Parva3AugustIsis4AugustHewell5AugustWandsworth6AugustLowdham Grange7AugustManchester8AugustSwinfen Hall9AugustBrixton10AugustHewell11AugustFeatherstone12AugustBullingdon13AugustCardiff14AugustLeicester15AugustThe Mount16AugustHull17AugustParc18AugustThe Mount19AugustGuys Marsh20AugustLowdham Grange21AugustBullingdon22AugustRochester23AugustWayland24AugustParc25AugustBelmarsh26AugustMoorland27AugustBullingdon28AugustParc29AugustWerrington30AugustHewell31AugustWayland32AugustRanby33AugustLeicester34AugustWetherby35AugustDovegate36AugustManchester37AugustBronzefield38AugustBirmingham39AugustHighpointTotalAugust39DateEstablishment1SeptemberNottingham2SeptemberIsis3SeptemberParc4SeptemberHolme House5SeptemberManchester6SeptemberLewes7SeptemberRochester8SeptemberHewell9SeptemberThe Mount10SeptemberChelmsford11SeptemberHighpoint12SeptemberDoncaster13SeptemberLincoln14SeptemberGarth15SeptemberManchester16SeptemberWhitemoor17SeptemberWhatton18SeptemberWymott19SeptemberHighpoint20SeptemberBristol21SeptemberHaverigg22SeptemberLowdham Grange23SeptemberHumber24SeptemberLeicester25SeptemberIsis26SeptemberHindley27SeptemberExeter28SeptemberGlen Parva29SeptemberThe Mount30SeptemberFeltham31SeptemberHigh Down32SeptemberWayland33SeptemberDoncaster34SeptemberLindholme35SeptemberLowdham GrangeTotalSeptember35DateEstablishment1OctoberBrixton2OctoberErlestoke3OctoberStocken4OctoberDover5OctoberIsis6OctoberBedford7OctoberWormwood Scrubs8OctoberManchester9OctoberStocken10OctoberLeeds11OctoberWealstun12OctoberSwaleside13OctoberBristol14OctoberColdingley15OctoberWinchester16OctoberLowdham Grange17OctoberWinchester18OctoberGlen Parva19OctoberWayland20OctoberWandsworth21OctoberHighpoinnt22OctoberLancaster Farms23OctoberLowdham Grange24OctoberLindholme25OctoberMoorland26OctoberGartree27OctoberDoncaster28OctoberSwinfen Hall29OctoberBelmarsh30OctoberWinchester31OctoberFull Sutton32OctoberBrinsford33OctoberLeeds34OctoberBedford35OctoberManchesterTotalOctober35DateEstablishment1NovemberMoorland2NovemberWandsworth3NovemberDoncaster4NovemberPreston5NovemberWandsworth6NovemberSwansea7NovemberFeatherstone8NovemberIsis9NovemberGlen Parva10NovemberWandsworth11NovemberHumber12NovemberWerrington13NovemberBirmingham14NovemberMorton Hall15NovemberLeeds16NovemberMoorland17NovemberParc18NovemberLeicester19NovemberNottingham20NovemberBirmingham21NovemberLeeds22NovemberHumber23NovemberColnbrook24NovemberHumber25NovemberWetherby26NovemberLeeds27NovemberSwinfen Hall28NovemberWinchester29NovemberThameside30NovemberWayland31NovemberGlen Parva32NovemberCardiff33NovemberLewes34NovemberGlen Parva35NovemberGlen Parva36NovemberLindholme37NovemberThe Mount38NovemberDurhamTotalNovember381DecemberMoorland2DecemberWandsworth3DecemberBuckley Hall4DecemberManchester5DecemberHumber6DecemberWormwood Scrubs7DecemberDurham8DecemberElmley9DecemberHumberTotalDecember9

Terrorism: Sentencing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2015 to Question 18367, what length of sentence was handed down to each offender convicted of offences involving inciting terrorism in each of the last three years.

Andrew Selous: All the offenders convicted of the specified offences below involving inciting terrorism received immediate custodial sentences. The number of offenders found guilty and sentenced, with sentencing outcomes, for offences related to inciting terrorism, in all courts in England and Wales, from 2012 to 2014, can be viewed in the tables, as follows:Table 1 includes data on Section 59 of the Terrorism Act 2000Table 2 includes data on Section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006.Table 3 includes data on Sections 15 to 19 of the Terrorism Act 2000Table 4 includes data on Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.



Offenders under the Terrorism Act 2012-14
(Excel SpreadSheet, 55 KB)

Bill of Rights: Scotland

Richard  Arkless: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans for the proposed British Bill of Rights to apply to Scotland.

Dominic Raab: The government was elected with a mandate to reform the UK’s human rights framework. We are considering the implications of a Bill of Rights on devolution as we develop our proposals. We will, of course, fully engage with the devolved administrations.

Criminal Proceedings

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in what proportion of criminal cases in (a) magistrates courts and (b) crown courts the defendant (i) pleaded guilty without trial and (ii) was acquitted following trial.

Mr Shailesh Vara: In 2014, 18.5% of all defendants tried at the Crown Court were acquitted (15,868 out of a total of 85,943 defendants tried at the Crown Court).In 2014, 99.5% of defendants who pleaded guilty in the Crown Court did so before a jury trial commenced. The methodology for producing the relevant magistrates data is being developed and I will write to the Honourable Member as soon as it is available. A copy of the letter will be placed in the House Library.

Bill of Rights: Devolution

Richard  Arkless: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what account he has taken of the distinction between reserved and devolved matters in the devolved administrations in his plans for the proposed British Bill of Rights and for consultation on that proposed bill.

Dominic Raab: The government was elected with a mandate to reform the UK’s human rights framework. We are considering the implications of a Bill of Rights on devolution as we develop our proposals. We will, of course, fully engage with the devolved administrations.

Criminal Proceedings: Fees and Charges

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether revenue received from the criminal courts charge has exceeded the cost to the public purse of running such courts since that charge was introduced.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The principle underlying the Criminal Courts Charge was for offenders to contribute towards the cost of running the Criminal Courts, not to cover the full running costs.Data on the amount of the Criminal Courts Charge imposed and collected from April to September can be found here – https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-court-statistics.

Ministry of Justice: Employment Agencies

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2015 to Question 18873, which companies provided the agency workers to cover operational uniformed staff in each month; and how much was paid to those companies.

Andrew Selous: We only use temporary staff to fill business critical posts and essential frontline services where they can provide a fast, flexible and efficient way to obtain necessary skills that are not currently available in-house. We continue to examine our use of consultants and agency staff to find savings where possible. We have committed to reducing our back office and administrative budget by 50% by 2020.The company which provided the agency workers to cover operational uniformed costs in each month was Hays. £46,424,119 was paid to thembetween January 2014 and October 2015.

Prisons: Crimes of Violence

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on female prison staff took place in each of the last 10 years.

Andrew Selous: We do not tolerate violence of any kind in prison and any assault is treated extremely seriously. Any prisoner who commits an act of violence can expect to have action taken against them.Quarterly statistics on the numbers of assaults on prison staff are published in the Safety in Custody statistics bulletin, located at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/472712/Safety-in-custody-summary-q2-2015.xlsInformation on the gender of those staff who have been assaulted is not held centrally.

Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission

Electoral Register

John Mann: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how many people in the UK were registered on a UK Parliamentary electoral register on 1 December (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014 and (f) 2015.

Mr Gary Streeter: The number of entries on UK Parliamentary registers for the years requested, are set out in the table below. Due to the implementation of individual electoral registration revised, registers were not published in December 2013 but in February and March 2014.RegisterUK  Parliamentary register (including attainers)December 201045,844,691December 201146,107,152December 201246,353,871December 2013 (published Feb/Mar 2014)46,139,940December 201445,325,078Figures for the December 2015 registers are not yet available and this data will be published as soon as possible after 1 February, once those areas that have had by-elections have published their registers.

Ministry of Defence

Military Bases

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the maintenance, improvement and development costs of (a) MOD Grantown-on-Spey, (b) MOD Llanwrst, (c) MOD Fairbourne and (d) MOD Crickhowell were in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 02 December 2015.The correct answer should have been:

The RAF does not hold the costs for the last ten years. However, the costs for the last financial year are shown below:SiteMaintenance Costs financial year 2014-15Improvement Costs financial year 2014-15Development Costs financial year 2014-15Joint School for Adventurous Training Instructors (JSATI) Llanrwst£15,500 £22,500nilnilForce Development Training Centre (FDTC) Fairbourne£25,500 £34,500nilnilFDTC Crickhowell£60,000 £39,000nil £200,0001nilFDTC Grantown-On-SpeyCosts cannot be broken out £13,400£7,000 2nil1£200,000 is transferred to the Council of Reserve Forces and Cadet Association (CRFCA) each year to spend on their cadet buildings at Crickhowell.2Spent on lifestyle improvements and funded through a centralised grant.

Mark Lancaster: The RAF does not hold the costs for the last ten years. However, the costs for the last financial year are shown below:SiteMaintenance Costs financial year 2014-15Improvement Costs financial year 2014-15Development Costs financial year 2014-15Joint School for Adventurous Training Instructors (JSATI) Llanrwst£15,500 £22,500nilnilForce Development Training Centre (FDTC) Fairbourne£25,500 £34,500nilnilFDTC Crickhowell£60,000 £39,000nil £200,0001nilFDTC Grantown-On-SpeyCosts cannot be broken out £13,400£7,000 2nil1£200,000 is transferred to the Council of Reserve Forces and Cadet Association (CRFCA) each year to spend on their cadet buildings at Crickhowell.2Spent on lifestyle improvements and funded through a centralised grant.

Islamic State

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the sources of (a) arms and (b) armed vehicles obtained by Daesh.

Penny Mordaunt: Daesh has obtained weapons through capture, and through the black market. It has also captured a variety of armed and unarmed vehicles. In addition, Daesh has produced its own Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), including vehicle-borne IEDs and suicide bombs, improvised rockets, mortars and munitions.

Arms Trade: Yemen

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of the accuracy of reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch that a UK-produced bomb was used in an airstrike against a civilian factory in Yemen.

Penny Mordaunt: We are aware of the allegation that a ceramics factory in Sana'a Governorate was attacked on 23 September 2015 causing civilian casualties and are monitoring this alleged incident.In doing so, the Ministry of Defence is considering a range of evidence from Government sources, foreign governments, the media and international non-governmental organisations. Our consideration of this allegation is on going.

Air Force: Vacancies

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to reduce shortages in the number of trained air warfare personnel; and what assessment he has made of the effect of that shortage on military operations in Iraq and Syria.

Penny Mordaunt: The term "air warfare personnel" is not recognised within the Royal Air Force. Allocation of manpower is sensibly prioritised to ensure that operational needs are met in full.

Middle East: Military Intervention

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Reaper drones are currently deployed in (a) Iraq and (b) Syria.

Penny Mordaunt: To safeguard operational security I am withholding operational information on the number of RAF Reaper aircraft deployed.

Armed Forces: Housing

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department takes to ensure that people divorced from serving officers are not evicted from serviced housing before they have found alternative accommodation.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence is as flexible as possible in allowing the maximum time to secure alternative accommodation.However, only serving personnel are eligible to be housed. In the event of a marriage breakdown, entitlement for a non-serving partner to stay in the property is lost and it may become necessary to free up housing for entitled Service families.

Warships: Training

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Type (a) 45 Destroyers and (b) 23 Frigates will be used to host training programmes for Royal Navy personnel in 2015-16.

Penny Mordaunt: Training programmes for Royal Navy personnel are delivered on all Royal Navy ships and submarines as part of the unit's generation and operation cycles, throughout individuals' careers. We currently have six Type 45 Destroyers and 13 Type 23 Frigates in service.

Veterans: Housing

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on the veterans' accommodation fund in each year since 2010.

Mark Lancaster: The £40 million Veterans Accommodation Fund was open for applications in 2014 using LIBOR money to support projects providing veterans accommodation. Successful projects were announced between July 2014 and July 2015, with a total of 16 projects supported. For details of the funding allocated to the successful projects I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 2 June 2015 and 23 November 2015 to the hon. Member for St. Helens North (Mr McGinn) to Questions 428 and 16834.In addition, the Chancellor announced in March 2015 a new £25 million Aged Veterans Fund staged over five years; this is also provided from LIBOR fines and charities can apply for funding to help veterans born before 1950. The Aged Veterans Fund is now closed for applications, but it will reopen in 2016.



428 - QnA extract on Armed Forces Covenant
(Word Document, 14.91 KB)




16834 - QnA extract on Armed Forces Covenant
(Word Document, 15.27 KB)

Armed Forces: Housing

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff were employed at the Joint Service Housing Advice Office in each year since 2010.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's expenditure was on the Joint Service Housing Advice Office in each year since 2010.

Mark Lancaster: The Joint Service Housing Advice Office has had eight posts since 2010.The total expenditure of individual departments, including the Joint Service Housing Advice Office, is not collated at a single point. For example, infrastructure costs (including utilities) are managed through Regional Prime Contracts which do not split out individual units. Similarly, equipment costs cannot be split out. For this reason, the total expenditure of the Joint Service Housing Advice Office cannot be provided.

Armed Forces: Housing

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff were employed at the Single Persons Accommodation Centre for the Ex-Services in each year since 2010.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's expenditure was on the Single Persons Accommodation Centre for the Ex-Services in each year since 2010.

Mark Lancaster: The Single Persons Accommodation Centre for the Ex-Services (SPACES) is a charitable project working in partnership with Ministry of Defence (MOD) Joint Service Housing Advice Office. There have not been any MOD employees at SPACES since 2010.SPACES assists the most vulnerable single Service Leavers to secure appropriate accommodation as they leave the Armed Forces in order to reduce the likelihood of them becoming homeless or rough sleepers. In order to ensure the provision of this service, the MOD has paid SPACES the following:FY2010-11 = £170,750FY2011-12 = £175,019FY2012-13 = £179,394FY2013-14 = £179,394FY2014-15 = £179,394

Army

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many serving members of the regular Army have been transferred to the staff and personnel support branch in each year since 2010.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on bonuses for regular Army personnel who have been transferred to the staff and personnel support branch in each year since 2010.

Mark Lancaster: Since 2010 the numbers of trained regular officers and soldiers transferring to the Adjutant General's Corps Staff and Personnel Support Branch, AGC(SPS), each calendar year are as follows:2010 - 1302011 - 1602012 - 502013 - 402014 - 602015 to 31 October - 150Where there is a shortage of key personnel, the Army offers a transfer bonus which is payable to soldiers upon successful completion of the transfer into the specified trade.From 2010 to 2013, transfer bonus payments of £1,500 each were made to 73 soldiers who transferred into the AGC(SPS) as Military Clerks or Combat Human Resource Specialists. No payments were made from 2014 onwards. The amount spent each calendar year since 2010 is as follows:2010 - £52,5002011 - £51,0002012 - £3,0002013 - £3,000

European Defence Agency

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the UK contributed to the European Defence Agency (EDA) during 2014-15; and what the benefit is to the armed forces of membership of the EDA which they do not receive from NATO membership.

Mr Julian Brazier: The UK contribution to the European Defence Agency (EDA) budget for Financial Year 2014-2015 was £3.319 million. The UK has held the budget at zero nominal growth since 2010.A recent review by Cranfield University of the UK's EDA membership found it enables the UK to influence coherent capability development across Member States; 22 of which are also in NATO. Specific benefits include membership of the EDA Military Airworthiness Authorisation Forum, the Helicopter Training Programmes, and the Single European Sky initiative, which support interoperability through harmonisation of military airworthiness regulations across Member States, and de-risk future combined operations.The Review also identified benefits to UK Defence industry: the ability to influence European Defence industry initiatives, enabling UK Defence industry access to EDA programmes and the building of confidence of cross border procurement, all of which help contribute to reducing the cost of Defence capability and thus the delivery of the most effective capabilities to UK Armed Forces.

Syria: Military Intervention

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received from his French, US and German counterparts on the UK's decision to extend airstrikes to Syria.

Michael Fallon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 December 2015 to Question 18966.



Syria Military Intervention
(Word Document, 14.24 KB)

Armed Forces: Northern Ireland

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times army technical officers have been deployed to incidents in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Penny Mordaunt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 November 2015 to Question 17417 to the hon. Member for East Londonderry (Mr Campbell). The Report of the Independent Reviewer of the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 which contains the requested information is published annually. The next report will be published in January 2016.



17417 - QnA extract on NI Bomb Disposal
(Word Document, 17.31 KB)

Military Aid: Refugees

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will offer military resources to assist with the refugee crisis (a) in Lesbos and (b) elsewhere.

Penny Mordaunt: The Ministry of Defence is already supporting the Home Office in its work with refugees. In the Mediterranean, Royal Navy medics and a Royal Marine force protection team are deployed on board the Border Force chartered vessel MV VOS Grace currently in the Aegean Sea, supporting the EU's FRONTEX-led search and rescue operation. The Ministry of Defence has also supported HM Government's Syrian Resettlement Programme through the provision of medical escorts on board some of the charter flights that recently brought Syrian refugees to the UK.HMS ENTERPRISE is also deployed to the EU Naval Force operation in the Mediterranean tackling the migrant smugglers who profit from the perilous journeys made by migrants across the Central Mediterranean. Royal Navy assets operating in this operation and the earlier search and rescue operation in the summer, have rescued over 7,500 persons in the Mediterranean since May.

Department for Work and Pensions

Maternity Pay

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support parents of babies who spend time in neonatal care; if he will take steps to extend the statutory maternity pay of premature babies; and if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of such steps.

Priti Patel: The Government currently has no plans to extend Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) for the parents of premature or sick babies who spend time in neo-natal care.SMP is designed to help working women during pregnancy and after childbirth by providing a measure of earnings replacement enabling them to stop work for a reasonable period around the birth to prepare for and recover from childbirth.Working women are generally able to choose when they want their payments to begin and this flexibility in the start date for maternity pay was introduced in response to medical opinion that the woman herself is best able to judge the point at which she should give up work. This ensures sufficient time off to allow for different situations, including instances where babies are delivered at an earlier date and where babies need hospital care following birth.The standard rate of SMP is part of a package of financial support to working families which includes Statutory Paternity Leave and Pay, Parental Leave and Flexible working. Tax Credits and Child Benefit are also available through HM Revenue and Customs to all families who qualify.Additionally, the introduction of Statutory Shared Parental Leave and Pay for babies due on or after 5 April 2015 enables eligible mothers, fathers, and partners to choose how to share time off work after their child is born, giving parents much more flexibility in how to use their leave entitlement. This flexibility will be particularly valuable to parents who have to deal with difficult or unexpected circumstances and it allows parents, for the first time, to take leave together in a way that suits them.

Children: Maintenance

Ian Blackford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to correct the computer error in the child maintenance system on the collection of arrears.

Priti Patel: There were well-documented IT failures in the 1993 and 2003 Child Support Agency (CSA) statutory child maintenance scheme systems. The Coalition government introduced a new Child Maintenance scheme in 2012 which addresses these issues. This is operated by the Child Maintenance Service and used a pathfinder approach to introduce new IT systems in a slow, safe and controlled way. The 2012 scheme systems are designed to be more cost-effective and overcome the key failings associated with the 1993 and 2003 CSA schemes and systems. We will be closing all the cases on the old schemes, and we are continuing to pursue existing debt.

Occupational Pensions

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how agreement was sought on how to amend the investment regulations as recommended in the report by the Law Commission, Fiduciary Duties of Investment Intermediaries, published in June 2014.

Justin Tomlinson: Between February and April 2015, the Government consulted on amending the Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment) Regulations in line with the Law Commission’s recommendations. 47 responses were received, from a variety of organisations. While these responses demonstrated some support for changing the regulations, having considered the range of responses the Government concluded that there was not a compelling case to amend these regulations.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Flood Control: Finance

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2015 to Question 16031, how much the Environment Agency spent directly on maintaining flood defences in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 and (d) 2013-14; and how much the agency projects it will spend on such defences in (i) 2015-16, (ii) 2016-17, (iii) 2017-18, (iv) 2018-19 and (v) 2019-20.

Rory Stewart: The table below shows how much the Environment Agency spent directly on maintaining flood defences in the years requested:Allocation £m2010/112011/122012/132013/142014/15Asset Management168156169147171The Government has confirmed that flood maintenance funding will be protected in real terms for the duration of this Parliament.

Climate Change

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many of her officials are engaged in preparing the Government's next Climate Change Risk Assessment.

Rory Stewart: Defra’s core climate change adaptation team of eight officials is coordinating and inputting to the preparation of the second Climate Change Risk Assessment, to be laid in Parliament in January 2017. Many other officials from across Defra, wider Government and its agencies are also contributing to the assessment. The underlying evidence report that will make up the bulk of the assessment is being prepared by the Adaptation Sub-Committee of the Committee on Climate Change, with extensive input from around 100 other experts.

Flood Control: Finance

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2015 to Question 18118, when she plans to announce the level of funding for flood defence maintenance in each year until 2019-20.

Rory Stewart: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 18 December 2015.The correct answer should have been:

The table below shows how much the Environment Agency spent directly on maintaining flood defences in the years requested:Allocation £m2010/112011/122012/132013/142014/15Asset Management168156169147171The Government has confirmed that flood maintenance funding will be protected in real terms for the duration of this Parliament. In addition to the maintenance spend, a further £2.3 Billion will be invested in flood defences in the next six years, providing better protection to over 300,000 households.

Rory Stewart: The table below shows how much the Environment Agency spent directly on maintaining flood defences in the years requested:Allocation £m2010/112011/122012/132013/142014/15Asset Management168156169147171The Government has confirmed that flood maintenance funding will be protected in real terms for the duration of this Parliament. In addition to the maintenance spend, a further £2.3 Billion will be invested in flood defences in the next six years, providing better protection to over 300,000 households.

Home Office

Passports

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will issue a response to Early Day Motion 676, British Women and the New British Passport.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 08 December 2015



The theme for the latest design is ‘Creative United Kingdom’ and celebrates 500 years of creativity in the United Kingdom. It features well known images from artists, landmarks and architecture, iconic British innovations and the performing arts and represents all four countries in the UK.The images of Ada Lovelace, for her continued importance to modern day computing, and Elisabeth Scott, as a pioneer for women in architecture, are rightly deserving of their place within this celebration of creativity.The new passport design has been in development since February 2013 and it has been necessary to secure the appropriate consents in order to use particular images. Narrowing the image choices down to a final number was an extremely difficult decision. The images chosen within the new passport design have enabled the use of evolving security technology to make it even more difficult to commit passport fraud. Passports featuring the new design have started to be issued.

Offences against Children: Internet

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will assess the practicality of putting in place standard blocks to child pornography on the internet similar to those obtained by members of the BPI British Recorded Music Industry Ltd on material where access would cause commercial damage.

Karen Bradley: Reports of Indecent Images of Children (IIOC) can be made to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) which is an industry funded body. In 2014 the IWF processed 74,119 reports, of which 31,443 were confirmed as depicting illegal content. The IWF can proactively search the Internet for IIOC and this has vastly increased the number of webpages being taken down.100% of UK-hosted webpages confirmed by the IWF as containing IIOC were removed within four days, although most were taken down within two hours. 84% of webpages hosted outside the UK, and confirmed by the IWF as containing IIOC, were removed within 10 days. This material has been removed permanently, rather than simply having access to it blocked. The IWF also provides a list of webpages containing IIOC, primarily hosted outside the UK, to enable companies to block or filter them for their customers’ protection. This approach uses the same technology used by ISPs to block access to copyright-infringing websites.

Human Trafficking: Children

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress her Department has made on the evaluation of the Child Trafficking Advocates Trial.

Karen Bradley: Section 48(7) of the Modern Slavery Act requires the Government to lay before Parliament a report setting out the steps it proposes to take in relation to independent child trafficking advocates within nine months of Royal Assent of the Modern Slavery Act. The Government will publish this report and the independent evaluation, by the final day that Parliament sits this year.

Human Trafficking: Telephone Services

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many victims of human trafficking have been identified and their identities subsequently forwarded to the police as a result of people calling the NSPCC human trafficking and slavery helpline between July 2014 and June 2015.

Karen Bradley: I refer my Hon. Friend to my response of 11 November 2015 [14823]. Between 31 July 2014 and 31 July 2015 849 contacts were made to the NSPCC-run modern slavery helpline and of these 272 referrals were made to the police. The Home Office does not maintain a record of how many victims were identified as a result of these referrals.

Asylum: Wigan

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when officials of her Department last visited the asylum seekers staying at the Britannia Hotel in Wigan.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 17 December 2015



The Home Office regularly conducts visits of all asylum accommodation, including hotels used as contingency, in collaboration with our COMPASS providers. The latest inspection of the Brittania Hotel in Wigan by Home Office officials took place on Thursday 10 December 2015.

Large Goods Vehicles: Calais

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the number of lorries travelling through Calais to the UK were scanned by lorry body scanners in each month of 2015.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many lorries were scanned by lorry body scanners in Calais before entering the UK in each month of 2015.

James Brokenshire: To ensure the integrity and security of the UK border, Her Majesty’s Government cannot provide port specific statistics.Border Force operates a multi-layered search regime using a range of interventions to screen all freight vehicles entering the UK through the juxtaposed ports. This includes the use of specialist technologies such as Passive Millimetre Wave Imaging devices, heartbeat monitors and carbon dioxide detectors as well as physical searches by sniffer dogs, Border Force staff and specialist search contractors.

Refugees: Calais

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which Government Ministers or officials have visited the Calais refugee camp.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 17 December 2015



I have been to the Calais migrant camp and UK officials regularly visit the Jules Ferry Day Centre.

Refugees: Calais

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has made to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with regards to the Calais refugee camp.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 17 December 2015



The management of the migrant camps in Calais is the responsibility of the French Government. This includes decisions on whether to involve any particular organisation in the camps’ management.The UK Government notes however the welcome given by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to the joint declaration to address the issues in Calais signed by the UK and France on 20 August 2015. The UNHCR welcomed the plan to move migrants away from Calais to suitable facilities elsewhere in France and the effort to identify those vulnerable to trafficking, particularly women and children. Both Governments agree with the UNHCR that Calais is a symptom of the wider migration issue facing Europe, which must be addressed.

Refugees: Calais

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many refugees have (a) died and (b) been injured during an attempt to reach Britain from the Calais refugee camp.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 17 December 2015



Data on migrants who have died or been injured is a matter for the French authorities and would be held by them.The UK and France are unified in our joint efforts to address the migrant situation in Calais, and are clear that migrants should not risk their lives by making dangerous journeys in order to attempt to enter the UK illegally.

Refugees: Humanitarian Aid

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what humanitarian support the Government is offering in refugee camps in (a) Lesbos, (b) Idomeni, (c) Calais, (d) Dunkirk and (e) other locations.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 17 December 2015



Asylum seekers and refugees in other Member States are the responsibility of the authorities of those countries. Member States, furthermore, are bound by EU and international legal obligations to provide adequate care and reception to asylum seekers and refugees within their territory.The UK, nevertheless, continues to provide practical support to other Member States and both France and the UK are committed to finding a sustainable solution to the situation in Calais. Under the UK-France Joint Declaration of 20 August, the UK committed to providing a £3.6 million (or €5 million) per year for two years to help support a range of work to manage the migrant population in Calais, in particular to provide support and facilities elsewhere in France. Additionally, the UK has provided £530,000 (€750,000) to fund a project to identify those in the camps at risk of trafficking and exploitation, to transfer them to places of safety; and to provide them with appropriate support within the French system.In addition to our work with France, we are also providing practical support to Greece through the European Asylum Support Office by deploying UK asylum experts to the border control ‘hotspot’ in Lesbos to assist with the swift screening of asylum applicants arriving there. We stand ready to provide further such assistance where necessary.

HM Treasury

Fuels: Smuggling

Danny Kinahan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to the Exchequer was of disposing of illegal fuel in each of the last three years.

Damian Hinds: HMRC does not have specific figures for disposing of illegal fuel. HMRC fights fraud on a wide range of fronts, from special units performing thousands of roadside checks to raiding laundering plants. The UK has recently announced, jointly with Ireland, an improved new marker for rebated fuel, which will make it much harder to launder marked fuel and sell it at a profit.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Climate Change Convention: Paris

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what resources were committed by the UK at the COP21 climate conference in Paris to help developing countries pay for repairing damage from extreme weather events caused by climate change.

Andrea Leadsom: The Paris Agreement recognises the importance of averting, minimising and addressing loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, including extreme weather events and slow onset events, and the role of sustainable development in reducing the risk of loss and damage. The UK is already taking action to support insurance mechanisms that provide financial support in the event of an extreme weather event. For example, we support the G7 initiative that aims to increase by up to 400 million the number of people in the most vulnerable developing countries who have access to direct or indirect insurance coverage against the negative impact of climate change related hazards by 2020.The UK contribution to these rapid actions includes support for (i) the Africa Risk Capacity initiative and (ii) the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative (PCRAFI). Other UK-supported actions are contributing to the G7 Initiative’s overall aims.Her Majesty’s Government maintains the capacity to respond to humanitarian emergencies wherever they occur in the world.

Cabinet Office

Public Sector: Data Protection

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment has been made of people's attitudes towards public bodies using and sharing their data with other parts of the public sector as part of digitally transformed public services; and what plans the Government has to build trust and assurance among people on the Government's use of their data as part of those public services.

Matthew Hancock: The Government is committed to improving the way in which data is used and shared between public bodies for the benefit of the citizen, including the use of digital technology to transform public services in a way that is efficient, cost-effective and safe. The Government Digital Service will continue to support public bodies in making the most appropriate use of data and in ensuring that robust safeguards are in place to protect the privacy of individuals. We will continue to encourage public bodies to make non-sensitive administrative and aggregate data available as Open Data, as part of our ongoing commitment to transparency. We have also developed a draft ethical framework(which can be accessed at: https://data.blog.gov.uk/2015/12/08/data-science-ethics/) for how the Government uses data and we are embarking on a public dialogue which will understand and explore public opinion on the opportunities presented by data science

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Cybercrime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of making penalties for data breaches a criminal act in which negligence is involved.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government keeps the sanctions available for breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) periodically under review. The Information Commissioner alreadyhas the power to serve a Civil Monetary Penalty of up to £500,000 for‘serious’ contraventions of the DPA.

Department of Health

Parkinson's Disease: Northern Ireland

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on improving access to high-quality services for people affected by Parkinson's disease.

Jane Ellison: No discussions have taken place between Ministers of the Department and the Northern Ireland Executive on improving access to high-quality services for people affected by Parkinson's disease.As health is a devolved matter these issues are not regularly discussed between Ministers and their counterparts in the devolved administrations, however research and evidence of best practice is made widely available throughout the United Kingdom.

Pensioners: British Nationals Abroad

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of Britain's exit from the EU on access to healthcare for older British citizens who are resident in other EU countries.

Jane Ellison: The Prime Minister believes Britain’s best future lies within a reformed European Union. He is focused on addressing the concerns of the British people and is confident that the right agreement can be reached.

Cancer

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Independent Cancer Taskforce's report entitled, Achieving world-class cancer outcomes, a strategy for England 2015 to 2020, published in July 2015, what (a) short-term and (b) long-term steps he plans to take to ensure that there is (i) sufficient capacity and (ii) the optimal skills mix within the cancer workforce.

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with (a) NHS England and (b) Health Education England on recommendation 83 in the Independent Cancer Taskforce's report entitled, Achieving world-class cancer outcomes, a strategy for England 2015 to 2020, published in July 2015, on producing a workforce review by the end of 2016.

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to increase the number of (a) clinical nurse specialist, (b) clinical oncology, (c) medical oncology, (d) medical physics and (e) therapy radiography training positions.

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to recommendation 85 in the Independent Cancer Taskforce's report entitled, Achieving world-class cancer outcomes, a strategy for England 2015 to 2020, published in July 2015, what plans he has to recruit internationally to address workforce deficits.

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with (a) NHS England and (b) Health Education England on tackling workforce shortages within radiology and endoscopy to improve early diagnosis for cancer patients; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department plans to respond to each of the recommendations in the Independent Cancer Taskforce's report entitled, Achieving world-class cancer outcomes, a strategy for England 2015 to 2020, published in July 2015.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that Health Education England implements the recommendations on the training of workforce contained in the report of the Independent Cancer Taskforce, Achieving World Class Cancer Outcomes.

Jane Ellison: NHS England is currently working with partners across the health system to determine how best to take forward the recommendations in the independent Cancer Taskforce's report, Achieving world-class cancer outcomes: a strategy for England 2015 to 2020, and has appointed Cally Palmer CBE as NHS National Cancer Director to lead on managing implementation. She is currently setting up a new Cancer Transformation Board to lead the roll-out of the recommendations of the new strategy, including on workforce, and a Cancer Advisory Group, chaired by Dr Harpal Kumar, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, will oversee and scrutinise their work.We announced in September that Health Education England (HEE) is developing a new national training programme for an additional 200 staff to get the skills and expertise to carry out endoscopies by 2018. The content of the next mandate from the Government to HEE is currently being determined.

Cancer

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the level of (a) current imaging capacity within the NHS and (b) imaging capacity required to meet the Independent Cancer Taskforce's recommendation that all GPs have direct access to investigative tests by the end of 2015; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman: The extension of direct access to diagnostic tests for primary care is an issue for clinical commissioning groups and local commissioners. Although the Independent Cancer Taskforce report did estimate that some additional diagnostic capacity was needed, it did not consider possible increases in capacity required specifically as a result of increasing general practitioner (GP) direct access to testing.The Taskforce’s five-year strategy recommends improvements across the cancer pathway, with the aim of improving survival rates, and we will work with the NHS, charities and patient groups to deliver it. We have already announced funding of up to £300 million a year by 2020 to increase diagnostic capacity to meet the new target that patients will be given a definitive cancer diagnosis, or the all clear, within 28 days of being referred by a GP.In addition, the recently updated National Institute for Health and Care Excellence referral guidelines for suspected cancer also recommend GPs refer direct-to-test in a number of different circumstances. The guidance is available at:www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng12

Hepatitis

Mr Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to NHS England's document, Commissioning Intentions 2016/2017 for Prescribed Specialist Services, published in September 2015, what plans are being put in place by NHS regions which will focus on development of hepatitis C Operational Delivery Networks; and how such plans will relate to the national improvement framework for hepatitis C services.

Jane Ellison: NHS England’s commissioning intentions recognise that following their establishment in August 2015, Operational Delivery Networks (ODNs) will need to continue to be developed as a mechanism for ensuring equitable access to expert multidisciplinary team care and treatment for hepatitis C. ODNs are working to develop their plans, based on the published service specification and with the support of local specialised commissioning teams and regional Clinical Directors of specialised commissioning. Work is also underway to establish by February 2016 a national network of ODN clinical leads to share good practice. The formation of ODNs provides an opportunity for local collaborative commissioning conversations about hepatitis C pathways beyond the remit of specialised or health and justice services. In addition, the draft hepatitis C improvement framework includes a numbers of areas pertinent to ODN operation and will therefore support further development of their role.

NHS: Drugs

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 23 November 2015 to Question 16399, whether the Accelerated Access Review team has provided any information on how biosimilar medicines fit into its work stream.

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 23 November 2015 to Question 16399, what discussions he has had with the Accelerated Access Review team on biosimilars medicines; and whether he has been given assurance that the final report will make specific recommendations on their use.

George Freeman: In accordance with the terms of reference the Accelerated Access Review is not excluding any particular type or class of medicine, but is creating a framework through which to accelerate access for National Health Service patients to innovative health technologies including biosimilar medicines where appropriate.

Health: Finance

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which local authorities reported an underspend on their public health budget in the last financial year; how much that underspend was for each of those local authorities.

Jane Ellison: The table attached shows the local authorities that underspent on their public health allocation (the ring fenced grant they received for public health) for 2014/15.The grant conditions permit local authorities to carry money forward to a future period in a ring-fenced public health reserve.



Local authorities underspend against allocation
(Word Document, 19.26 KB)

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the NICE Quality Standard for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treatment is implemented in all NHS bodies.

Jane Ellison: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published a quality standard for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in January 2015. This sets out the markers of high quality in the care of people with IPF and is designed to drive up standards and to reduce inequalities and variation.NHS England commissions some services for patients with IPF as part of its specialised services remit. Its respiratory interstitial lung disease (adult) service specification, which includes IPF, sets out what it expects to be in place so that providers can offer evidence based, safe and effective services. This specification is currently being reviewed to ensure it includes the most up to date guidance on IPF including the recently published NICE quality standard. Commissioning of rehabilitation, oxygen services and acute admissions for exacerbations are covered by local commissioning arrangements.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people of each gender and age group were diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder in each of the last five years.

Alistair Burt: 2012-13 is the first year for which information is available. The number of people in England who were referred to Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services with obsessive compulsive disorder as the recorded problem from 2012-13 to 2014-15 is given in the attached table Improving Access to Psychological Therapies: Number of referrals where the recorded problem was Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, by gender and age group 2012-2013 to 2014-2015.



Obsessive compulsive disorder 2012-13 to 2014-15
(Excel SpreadSheet, 18.67 KB)

Hearing Impaired: Screening

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy for the NHS to screen all people over the age of 55 for hearing loss.

Alistair Burt: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the NHS in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy.In 2009-10 the UK NSC recommended that routine screening for adult hearing loss should not be offered because of the lack of evidence to warrant a screening programme. In particular:- it is not clear what the test should be;- there is no agreed time or schedule for carrying out the testing;- the acceptability of the test and in particular the treatment (hearing aids) is unclear; and- there had been no randomised trials of screening.As part of its routine evidence review process the UK NSC has just reviewed its recommendation on screening adults for hearing loss again. Ministers expect to receive a recommendation from the UK NSC shortly.

Macular Degeneration: Medical Treatments

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of when lens implants to prevent age-related macular degeneration will be available on the NHS.

Alistair Burt: No such estimate has been made. Clinical commissioning groups are responsible for the commissioning of ophthalmic services in secondary care. Where National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance does not exist on a particular treatment, it is for commissioners to make funding decisions based on an assessment of the available evidence and on the basis of an individual patient’s clinical circumstances.NHS Commissioners are required to have in place clear and transparent arrangements for local decision-making on the funding of treatments and for considering exceptional funding requests.

Mental Health Services: Children

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of clinical commissioning group transformation plans address the mental health needs of (a) children who have experienced abuse and (b) looked after children.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department takes to compare the transformation plans of clinical commissioning groups when appraising those plans.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of clinical commissioning group transformation plans do not mention services for (a) children who have experienced abuse and (b) looked after children; and if he will make a statement.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how he plans to hold to account clinical commissioning groups whose transformation plans do not include key performance indicators or estimated costs.

Alistair Burt: As part of improving transparency, all Local Transformation Plans must be published locally and made widely available.NHS England’s guidance Local Transformation Plans for Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing - Guidance and support for local areas is explicit about the need to promote equality and address health inequalities, and states that plans should ‘address the full spectrum of need including children and young people who have particular vulnerability to mental health problems for e.g. those with learning disabilities, looked after children and care leavers, those at risk or in contact with the Youth Justice System, or who have been sexually abused and/or exploited’.The assurance process requires local areas to evidence how they are meeting the needs of vulnerable groups including looked after children and children who have experienced abuse.An analysis of Local Transformation Plans has been commissioned and will include a thematic review of how the mental health needs of children and young people in vulnerable groups have been addressed.As set out in the guidance for Local Transformation Plans an integral part of the locally developed Children and Young People’s Mental Health Transformation Plans includes a tracking template that sets out local progress milestones and financial spend. This tracker will be used as the basis for assurance assessment in 2015/16 and from 2016/17 onwards progress on local transformation will become part of the mainstream planning assurance process.Local Transformation Plansrequire all key partners in a local area to agree how best to meet the mental health needs of children and young people in their local populations. 122 Local Transformation Planshave been developed that cover all 209 clinical commissioning groups.The assurance process for Local Transformation Plans for Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing was undertaken by NHS England regional teams and included assurance against each plan of standard self-assessment and tracker templates to enable a comparison of plans against objective success criteria.NHS England have commissioned a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the Local Transformation Plans, in order to support policy makers, local commissioners and services to understand and use the data that is contained within the plans to drive further improvements. Local Transformation Plans will be reviewed from a narrative, analytical and financial perspective, with thematic reviews carried out in key focus areas that align with Future in mind principles.

Tomography

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) MRI scanners and (b) computerised tomography scanners there are in England; where each such scanner is; and how old each such scanner is.

George Freeman: Information on the number, age and location of magnetic resonance imaging scanners and computerised tomography scanners is not collected centrally.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what mechanisms are in place to enable priority access to child and adolescent mental health services for (a) all vulnerable groups of young people and (b) victims of abuse in cases of urgent need.

Alistair Burt: Access to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) is based on the clinical assessment of each individual’s needs and as such there are generally no mechanisms in place that enable priority access to CAMHS for specific groups. We recognise that some children and young people who have particular vulnerabilities may be more likely to develop mental health problems.The local transformation planning process, currently being implemented by clinical commissioning group across England, covers the full spectrum of services for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing including how the needs of vulnerable groups of young people, such as those who are victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation, will be met. Local services will then be developed accordingly.

Health Services

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the Government is doing to encourage the equal treatment of mental and physical health within the NHS; and if he will introduce waiting time targets for children accessing all specialist child and adolescent mental health services.

Alistair Burt: The Government is committed to ensuring parity of esteem between physical and mental health which is legislated by the Health and Social Care Act 2012. It also holds the NHS to account for achieving the objectives set out in the NHS Mandate, which includes ensuring that mental and physical health conditions are given equal priority.NHS England’s Five Year Forward View set out a clear commitment to driving towards a more equal response across mental and physical health and achieving genuine parity of esteem by 2020. NHS England’s Planning Guidance for 2015/16, Forward View into action: planning for 2015-16, sets out the expectation that clinical commissioning groups’ (CCGs) spending on mental health services in 2015/16 should increase in real terms, and grow by at least as much as each CCG’s allocation increase to support the ambition of parity between mental and physical health. Compliance with the Planning Guidance is being assured at national and Area Team level.The Government remains committed to a phased approach to developing further access and waiting standards across mental health. The most recent of which was the Eating Disorder Standard announced in August 2015.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department gives to mental health trusts on (a) reducing did not attend cases and (b) ensuring risk assessments are carried out when young people fail to attend.

Alistair Burt: NHS England has issued guidance through the Local Transformation Plans for Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing: Guidance and Support for local areas (published August 2015) that states that services should set out a clear plan to transform the design and delivery of a local offer of services for children and young people with mental health needs in line with the Future in mind report.Future in mind was clear that services should monitor attendance and actively follow up families and young people who miss appointments, and that it may be necessary to find alternative ways to engage the child, young person or family. The Local Transformation Plans present an opportunity to make a step change in how agencies support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, especially the most vulnerable. This includes those who - for whatever reason - find it more difficult to engage with traditional models of service delivery and would instead benefit from seeing a clinician in a less conventional setting. Missed appointments should not lead to a family or young person being discharged from services, but instead be considered as an indicator of need and actively followed up, where necessary finding alternative ways to engage the child, young person or family.

Mental Health: Children and Young People

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to collect data on the needs of (a) looked after children, (b) children in need, (c) victims of abuse and (d) children living in poverty in the prevalence survey on children and young people's mental health.

Alistair Burt: The aim of the survey is to estimate the prevalence of mental health disorders in the general population aged two to 19 years. The survey will use a similar methodology to the last survey from 2004 to ensure comparability. A representative sample will be drawn from households in England (and Scotland). None of the specific groups listed in the question have been excluded from the survey.The number of looked after children and children in need in the general population are relatively low. This may limit the amount of data the survey can collect on these groups.We anticipate the final report of the survey will include some analysis of mental health disorders by characteristics including socio-economic factors. The contractor has also been asked to consider how to improve questions around the impact of abuse on children and young people’s mental health.

Cancer: Diagnosis

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place greater emphasis on improving cancer diagnosis rates when forming his Department's policies in future.

Jane Ellison: Improving early diagnosis of cancer is a priority for this Government. We will continue to work with NHS England, Public Health England and other partners to achieve early diagnosis through improved screening programmes, Be Clear on Cancer campaigns to raise awareness of symptoms of cancer to encourage people with symptoms to present promptly to their general practitioner (GP), and help for GPs to refer more accurately.We have committed to implementing recommendation 24 of the Independent Cancer Taskforce’s report Achieving World-Class Outcomes that by 2020, everyone referred with a suspicion of cancer will receive either a definitive diagnosis or the all-clear within four weeks. NHS England is working with partners across the health system to consider how best to take this forward. This standard will be underpinned by investment of up to £300 million more in diagnostics each year by 2020.NHS England has launched a major early diagnosis programme, Accelerate, Co-ordinate, Evaluate (ACE), working jointly with Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support to test new innovative approaches to identifying cancer more quickly. Outputs from the first wave of test sites, which commenced in April 2015, will be delivered on a phased basis, with the majority falling between September 2015 and December 2016. It is expected that ACE Wave 1 evaluation will be complete by mid-2017.In June this year, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published an updated guideline ‘Suspected cancer: recognition and referral’. The guideline focuses on key symptoms, to make it easier to use and will continue to support GPs to identify patients with symptoms of suspected cancer, and urgently refer them as appropriate. The guideline recommends a lower referral threshold for urgent referrals where cancer is suspected.

Premenstrual Syndrome: Hypertension

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for NHS diagnosis and treatment services of the findings of research indicating that women who have severe pre-menstrual tension are significantly more likely to develop high blood pressure.

Jane Ellison: This research was published on 25 November by the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Contributions to the evidence base are welcomed, but any recommendations for NHS clinical practice will be made on the basis of consideration of the research by clinical advisory bodies.

Heart Diseases: Babies

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to reduce and treat irregular heartbeats in infants that can lead to premature death.

Ben Gummer: Sudden loss of life can occur through diagnosed and previously undiagnosed heart conditions in children of any age. This is a devastating event to the families involved and there is no simple solution to prevent every case.A large part of the review of congenital heart services that reported in July 2015 focused on producing gold standards for the care of children and infants with heart problems. These standards have now been agreed and will be implemented in April 2016.One of the key workstreams arising from the review is improvement in detection of heart disease early in life and there are increasing numbers of specialists involved in this area of cardiology. Research and development strives to improve identification of high risk cases and refine screening programs to aid in reducing these shocking events.

Childbirth: Scotland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Scottish Government on strategies to prevent premature births.

Ben Gummer: In the last seven months, since the General Election, the Secretary of State, myself as I have responsibility for maternity care, and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Jane Ellison) who has responsibility for public health, have not held any discussions with Health Ministers in the Scottish Government on strategies to prevent premature births.

Pharmacy

Paul Scully: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department has made on implementing the plan for community pharmacists to access Summary Care Records; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman: NHS England is now working with stakeholders to develop guidance and the arrangements for deployment so that all community pharmacists in England have access to the Summary Care Record. As this continues to be rolled out, it will enable more pharmacies to provide increased clinical services, helping to reduce the burden on other health and social care providers.

Nutrition

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how his Department is encouraging the use of medical nutrition as a integral part of healthcare where there is an identified clinical need; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: Doctors are able to advise patients on any aspect of diet relevant to the treatment and management of a medical condition as part of their normal practise.The Government also takes active steps to support healthy eating and vitamin supplementation as a protective measure. The Healthy Start scheme is a United Kingdom wide government scheme to improve the health of low income pregnant women and families on benefits and tax credits. Women who are at least 10 weeks pregnant and families with children under four years old get vouchers to spend on milk, plain fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables (with nothing added). They also receive a voucher to swap, free of charge, for Healthy Start vitamins. Healthy start vitamins contain the supplements recommended by the Department to prevent deficiency; Vitamins D and C and folic acid for pregnant women and vitamins A, C and D for children.Hospital food standards for the National Health Service are written into the NHS Standard Contract 2015/16 which is the key document governing the purchase and provision of NHS services. Providers are obliged under the terms of their legally-binding contracts with commissioners to adhere to these requirements. The five food standards are:For patient catering:– The 10 Key Characteristics of Good Nutritional Care, NHS England– Nutrition and Hydration Digest, British Dietetic Association– Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool or equivalent, British Association for Parental and Enteral Nutrition.For staff and visitor catering:– Healthier and More Sustainable Catering – Nutrition Principles (for staff and visitor catering), Public Health England.For all catering:– Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services, Defra.For patients whose dietary requirements are not represented by the ‘eatwell plate’, a personal nutritional care plan should be implemented and tailored dietetic advice sought. The specific nutritional needs of individual patients should always supersede the application of blanket principles.

DiGeorge Syndrome: Drugs

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of medication given to patients with 22q11 syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman: No such assessment has been made. There are no medicines currently licensed to treat 22q11 syndrome, but many of the problems experienced by people with the condition can be monitored and treated if necessary.

Nutrition

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) investment, (b) infrastructure and (c) measurement of implantation will be put in place to enforce (i) the recent NHS England Commissioning Guidance entitled Commissioning excellent nutrition and hydration and (ii) the existing NICE quality standards on nutrition.

Jane Ellison: The work being undertaken by NHS England to support the Excellent Nutrition and Hydration guidance is done from within existing patient experience and safety teams.NHS England staff have met with Care Quality Commission hospital inspectors to discuss how the guidance can be used to incorporate assessment of nutrition and hydration through the inspection process. NHS England is also working with the Malnutrition Task Force, other National Health Service organisations, professional groups, charities and industry to support implementation.An evaluation is being undertaken through Kings College London with three clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to gain a baseline of CCG activity and how the guidance has been implemented. We are not currently undertaking work to specifically enforce these National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) quality standards, although CCGs should commission services in line with NICE guidance.

Nutrition: Chronic Illnesses

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to mandate that nutrition is written into all national care pathways for long-term conditions.

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, in what ways his Department recognises and supports innovation on medical nutrition.

Jane Ellison: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has developed a range of care pathways covering the management of long term conditions, such as diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which are based on its best practice guidance for management of these diseases. Where appropriate to the management of a condition, nutritional assessment and advice are included. In addition to this, there are specific care pathways covering nutrition support in adults and maternal and child nutrition which can be found at the following links:http://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/nutrition-support-in-adultshttp://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/maternal-and-child-nutritionNICE is the independent body responsible for developing best practice guidance for the NHS and its guidance is based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and is developed through wide consultation with stakeholders. NICE has issued guidance on a broad range of medical conditions, treatments and interventions and periodically reviews and updates its guidance to ensure that it reflects new evidence and other developments.